Hood latch



Feb. 7, 1939. A. E. PETERSON HOOD LATCH Fild Jan. 25, 1937 V 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1939. A E PETERSON 2,146,700

HOOD IIJATCH I Filed Jan 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @PMLM Feb. 7, 1939. A. E. PETERSON HOOD LATCH Filed Jan. 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. E. PETERSON HOOD LATCH Feb. 7, 1939.

Filed Jan. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7, 1939 PETERSON 2,146,700- 300D: LATCH v File d Jan. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE HOOD LATCH Arthur E. Peterson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 23, 1937, Serial No. 121,944

5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in hood latches and has for one purpose the provision of an approved hood latch mechanism adaptable, for example, for latching the hood closure of automobiles.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for drawing hinged automobile hood closures downwardly and inwardly in tight and substantially rattle-proof engagement with the adj acent parts of the vehicle.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for yieldingly thrusting hood latch mem,

bers into securing position in response to the actuation of an exterior handle.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is an inside elevation of the hood latch structure;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial inside elevation similar to Figure 1 illustrating parts in different position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of part of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure a s Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is an enlarged section taken on line 1--'l of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a partial inside elevation of a variant form;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a locking rod illustrating a further variation;

Figure 10 is a partial inside elevation illustrating a modified form of a locking member;

Figure 11 is a section on the line I ll I of Figure 1 Figures 12 and 13 are detail views of parts illustrated in the modified form of Figure 10 Figure 14 is a partial inside elevation of a still further variation'of a hood latch structure;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device illustrated in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a section taken on line l5l6 of Figure 15; a

Figure 17 is a view of a variant form of the device;

Figure 18 is a section on the line l8-I8 of Figure 17;

inwardly extending flange 23.

- terior handle 21.

Figure 19 illustrates a variant form of latch connection; and

Figure 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings and first to the form of Figures 1 and following, I generally indicates the closure proper which includes a lower edge 2, a forward edge 3, and a rear edge 4. 5 indicates a portion of the automobile radiator or other adjacent part and 6 a portion of the cowl or other adjacent part of the vehicle. 1 indicates a locking bracket mounted on the radiator or other adjacent part and including for example a base portion 8 and an arm 9 which includes an offset inclined cam portion I0, terminating in an extension I! generally parallel with the body of the bracket 7. A similar bracket generally indicated as I2 is mounted on the cowl or other member may be generally described as including a body portion IS, an outwardly latching offset 16 connected to the body 15 as by the angular portion I1, and a second lever l8 having an apertured ear E9. The member is pivotally mounted upon a base plate generally indicated as 20, which may be suitably secured to the closure l. Member 20 may include an offset generally cylindrical portion 2| with an aperture 22 bounded by an Any suitable pin 24 may be employed to secure the parts in rotatable relationship headed as at 25 and 26. The head 25 may, for example, be a lock nut threaded upon one end of the pin 24.

In order to impart locking and unlocking movement to the members 15, of which one is mounted at each end of the hood clusure, I provide an ex- It is mounted upon a suitable base plate 28 and is provided with an inwardly extending portion 29 secured to which is a lever 30. Pivoted at each end of the lever is the offset portion 3| of a locking rod 32. Each said rod extends from one end of the lever to one of the locking cranks 15, passing through the eye of the apertured ear 19. Note that the rod may be provided with an offset member 33 opposed to the eye of apertured ear l9 to limit relative move-' ment. A washer or spot welded lug may be used. On the opposite side of the member H! from the member 33 is a spring 34 compressed between the ear I!) and any suitable head or terminal portion 35 of the rod 32. As will be seen in Figures 1 and- 4, when the parts are in looking position, each locking rod 32 extends to the end of the lever 36 opposite to the latch member I5 to which it is secured. If the handle 21 is rotated from the locking position of Figure 1 to the unlocking position of Figure 3, the result is that the members 33 press against the lugs H! of the member l5 and positively rotate the said locking members from looking to unlocked position. The movement is positive. Any suitable stop 36 may be employed for limiting rotation of the lever 30. When the parts are moved in the opposite direction, the heads 35 of the locking rods 32 compress the springs 34 against. the lugs l9 and rotate the locking .or latching members l5 into latching position. However, in this case, the spring provides a spring or ,yielding pression of the springs 34 may be adjusted or varied,

Referringto Figures 4, 5, and '7, it will be observedthat. when the members 15 ,are rotated intolocking position they press against the offset portion ID of the arms 9 and tend not merely t9- draw. the closure downwardly, but to draw or earn it also inwardly against whatever abutments are employed to receive it, such as the adjacent .parts of the radiator 5 and the cowl 6. Note that the stop pin limits rotation of the lever 38 and handle 21 in an unlocking position. When the parts are in the locking position, the pivotal connections 3| of the locking rods 32 have rotated past center of the pivot of the lever 36 and thuslock the various members. ..Referring to Figure 8, I may employ, instead of the spring 34, the interposition of a yielding or flexible portion of the shaft 32. I, therefore, illustrate in Figure 8 merely a pivotal connection between the ends of the rods 32 and the lugs l9,

but provide a bent or offset portion 46 which serves to increase the difference or yield of the rod 32. In Figure 9 I illustrate a further form of this loop, theforrn of a complete loop indicated as 4|. I illustrate a further modification in Figures lllto 13, in which, instead of the simple or unitary members i5, I illustrate compound locking or latching members with relatively yieldably mountedcomponent members. I illustrate, for example, the two members 45, 46 pivoted together as at one being providedwith an arcuate slot 48 concentric with the I center at 41, and the other with a penetrating pin 49, which moves in the slot 48 and which, with it, limits the relative movementsof the parts 45 and 46 to a predetermined. arc. The spring 50 issecured at each end to one of the said members 45 and 46, and tends to draw them together with the parts as shown in Figure 10. It will be understood that in thatcase when the parts are moved from looking to unlocking position by the rods 32, the result is a positive movement of the locking member 46 out of locking position. On the other hand, when the partsare moved from unlocking to locking position, the.spring 50 permits a relative give of the parts 45 and 46 which has an effect generally equivalent to the effect of the spring 34 of the sition, but are moved into locking position in such fashion as to permit a spring ve, or take-up.

It will be understood, also, that I may employ using take-up spring means associated with the opposite or inner ends of the rods 32. I illustrate, for example, in Figures 14 to 16 in association with the lever 30a, terminal portions or offsets 5|, 52. Pivotally mounted upon these members or offsets 5| and 52 are apertured ears 53 through which pass the ends of the rods 32a. Each such rod may be provided with a terminal portion or abutment 54, provided with a washer 55, and springs 56, compressed between the washers 55 and the cars 53. 51 indicates any suitable pin or distorted portion adapted to limit the penetration of the rod 32a into or through the ear 53. The other. end of the rod 32a may be pivoted to a simple lever l5 without any spring connection.

,It will be understood that the springs 56 operate to obtain substantially the same result as is described in connection with the forms above discussed Namely, that when the latching members are moved into latching position, theyare yieldingly thrust and can give and takeuprattle. When they are moved out of latching position, they are positively moved.

Referring to the form of Figures 17 and 18, 66

generally indicates an inside double crank actufi ated by the outside handle 6|. Pivoted at each end of the crank 60 are rods 62 which m'ay, be:

crooked or angled as at 63. At their outer ends 7 they have secured to them flat coiled springs 64 provided with an eye 65 through which passesthe offset end 66 of the rod 62. The rods maybe expanded as at 6?, to prevent escape fromtlie spring. The inner end of the spring includes a straight portion 68 which penetrates in any suit v crank 10 pivoted as at "H to any suitable base.

'plate 12 having an upwardly extended central' offset 13. '14 indicates the latch portion of the crank 16 which engages any suitable iixed latch,

abutment 15.

It will be understood that the coil spring 64 provides a measure of flexibility or give which compensates for any inequalities in size and un-, 7

' evenness in wear. The spring' is kept in theta-j sition in which it is shown, for example by't he outwardly extending ear or projection 16 on thei crank" Hi. Thus it has the eifect of a rigid mern ber whenthe rod 62 is thrust in unlocking direc-Q' tion, but is a flexible or yielding connection when] having an eye 8] at one end which receivesthe. curved end 66 of the rod 62 which is held in posi- The opposite end tion by the enlargement 61.

82 of the U-shap'ed spring is engaged within the offset portion or clip 83 which may be formed integrally with thegeneral latch crank structure,

being for example secured to one edge thereof and curled over it. The member 82 may also be provided with an offset end which penetrates, an

aperture in the latch crank 16 as at 84, thus serving as an anchor. spring 80, as illustrated in dotted lines, normally engages a lug 85 integral with the latch crank 10, and is positioned and guided between an elongated lug 81, ofiset fromthe latch crank,

and a guidin member 86 herein illustrated as forming a part of the lug 85 ,It will be under; stood that the structure operates generally as the structure shown in Figures 17 and, .18, the

U-shaped spring providing a measure of flexi,

all

The free end of the. 5

bility or give which compensates for any inequalities in size or unevenness in wear.

I claim:

1. In a hood latch adapted for use with the hood closure of an automotive vehicle, a bell crank lever mounted on the interior of said closure for rotation about a generally horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the inner face of said closure, an actuating rod operatively associated with an arm of said bell crank lever, the other arm being adapted to engage an opposed portion of the vehicle, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod and for thereby rotating said bell crank lever toward and away from looking position, yielding means interposed between said rod and said bell crank lever and adapted to permit relative movement of said rod and bell crank lever, when the rod is moved in the locking direction, and a positive connection between said rod and said bell crank lever whereby, when said rod is moved in the unlocking direction, it positively engages and moves said bell crank lever into unlocked position.

2. In a hood latch adapted for use with the hood closure of an automotive vehicle, a bell crank lever mounted on the interior of said closure for rotation about a generally horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the inner face of said closure, an actuating rod operatively associated with an arm of said bell crank lever, the other arm being adapted to engage an opposed portion of the vehicle, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod and for thereby rotating said bell crank lever, when the rod is moved in the locking direction, and a positive connection between said rod and said bell crank lever whereby, when said rod is moved in the unlocking direction, it positively engages and moves said bell crank lever into unlocked position, the arm of the bell crank lever with which the actuating rod is associated having an apertured flange through which an end of said rod projects, an abutment member on the end of said rod, and a spring compressed between said abutment and said flange,

3. In a hood latch adapted for use with the hood closure of an automotive. vehicle, a bell crank lever mounted on the interior of said closure for rotation about a generally horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the inner face of said closure, an actuating rod operatively associated with an arm of said bell crank lever, the

other arm being adapted to engage an opposed portion of the vehicle, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod and for thereby rotating said bell crank lever toward and away from locking position, yielding means interposed between said rod and said bell crank lever and adapted to permit relative movement of said rod and bell crank lever, when the rod is moved in the locking direction, and a positive connection between said rod and said bell crank lever whereby, when said rod is moved in the unlocking direction, it positively engages and moves said bell crank lever into unlocked position, the arm of the bell crank lever with which the actuating rod is associated having an apertured flange through which an end of said rod projects, an abutment member on the end of said rod, and a spring compressed between said abutment and said flange, said rod having a limiting abutment portion opposed to the side of said flange opposite to that which is engaged by said spring.

4. In a hood latch adapted for use with the hood closure of an automotive vehicle, a bell crank lever mounted on the interior of said closure for rotation about a generally horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the inner face of the closure, an actuating rod operatively associated with an arm of said bell crank lever, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod and for thereby rotating said bell crank lever toward and away from locking position in relation to said keeper, and yielding means interposed between said rod and the arm of the bell crank lever with which it is associated.

5. In a hood latch adapted for use with the hood closure of an automotive vehicle, a bell crank lever mounted on the interior of said closure for rotation about a generally horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the inner face of the closure, an actuating rod operatively associated with an arm of said bell crank lever, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod and for thereby rotating said bell crank lever toward and away from locking position in relation to said keeper, yielding means interposed be tween said rod and the arm of the bell crank lever with which it is associated, the arm being apertured to permit the passage therethrough of the end of the rod, and abutment means limiting the penetration of said rod through said aperture.

ARTHUR E. PE'I'ERSON. 

